PONANT Explorations

Global

A pioneer of small-ship expeditions, PONANT is a French-owned and operated luxury exploration line. Its fleet of 14 intimate, yacht-style vessels—which accommodate anywhere from 12 to 330 guests—are among the newest and most modern on the market, sailing between all seven continents in superlative style. While PONANT was among the first to host expeditions in Antarctica, the brand now offers tropical and subtropical expeditions in addition to polar itineraries, taking guests far away from crowded maritime routes and to destinations off the beaten track, like Australia’s Kimberley Region and the Malay Archipelago.

The iconic three-masted Le Ponant is the brand’s most emblematic vessel, while Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury icebreaker, is powered by electric battery and liquified natural gas. The authority on luxury exploration and sustainable tourism in the polar regions and beyond, PONANT is also at the forefront of developing and implementing new technologies that preserve and protect the environment. Next up: Swap2Zero, a carbon neutral transoceanic ship set to debut in 2030.

By the Numbers

Launched in 1988; 20+ years of expedition experience in the South and North Poles; 15-vessel fleet including the industry’s first luxury icebreaker; 2 languages (French and English) spoken on all ships; 1:1 staff-guest ratio on Le Ponant; 100% of waste generated on PONANT voyages is separated and sorted for recycling; invested over $1 billion in building a modern, more environmentally-sound fleet; 50-some artists, scientists, writers, and lecturers are invited to join sailings every year to share their expertise and passion with guests.

Some of our stories

For the first time, PONANT Explorations will offer a Greece itinerary during the cooler months, with multiple departures scheduled for late September and October 2025

Collaboration with the Explorers Club - both are rooted in common values of focusing on the spirit of exploration and the advancement of field research

Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s first luxury icebreaker (she can cut through ice up to nine feet thick!) and only luxury vessel to reach the true North Pole and the first passenger vessel to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility, the most remote point in the Arctic Ocean

First Maritime Line to Achieve Green Globe Certification: an internationally recognized standard for sustainable tourism

Exclusive guest experiences include polar trekking in Greenland, rural village tours in Japan, a snowmobile safari in Finnish Lapland

Paul Gauguin Cruises, an expert in French Polynesia, will unveil an extensive renovation in Spring 2025, featuring a refreshed design and cutting-edge sustainable technologies

PONANT Collection

PONANT Explorers
The Four Sisterships
Le Commandant Charcot
Le Ponant
m/s Paul Gauguin

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